Housing without harming the countryside

New homes can change the look and feel of a place, so it’s vital we get decisions about development right.

This is particularly true at Lenham Heath where there are plans to build thousands of new homes as part of a Garden Village development.

This week I put constituents’ concerns about housing targets to the new Housing Minister, Stuart Andrew MP.

There’s no doubt that we need new homes in Kent.

I recently met the Housing Minister, Christopher Pincher MP, to convey concerns from local residents and councillors about housing numbers in Kent.

People have strong feelings when it comes to new housing.

People write to me all the time who have grown up in Faversham and can no longer afford to live here so we do need new homes.

The problem is the scale of the development proposed.

Anyone who lives around Maidstone knows there are serious traffic problems in the town.

I've called on Maidstone Borough Council to tackle our grid-locked roads as part of their new Local Plan.

Like many people, I’m extremely concerned by some of the proposals for Swale Borough Council’s new Local Plan.

I know local residents are hugely concerned about plans for 2,000 new homes around Lidsing.

People are worried about traffic getting worse on local roads, pressure on services, and the loss of a much-loved open space & "green lung" for the local community. 

I’m bitterly disappointed that Maidstone Borough Council has decided to go ahead with the Heathlands and Lidsing Garden Villages.

Swale Borough Council has announced major changes to how their new Local Plan will be developed.

The Council published a draft Local Plan earlier this year, which included proposals to build 4,000 new houses in Faversham and the surrounding villages.

Thank you to everyone who took part in my survey on Swale Borough Council's Local Plan.

The results are in, and it's clear there is a huge amount of frustration and sadness at what is being proposed.